Parachute apparatus



Jan. 13. 1925. 1,523,200

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agate PARACHUTE APPARATUS.

Application filed March 13, 1922. .Serial No. 543,538.

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HAROLD EDWARD SHER- WIN HOLT, subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and a resident of The Grange, Farnborough, inthe county of Hampshire, England, whose post-oiiice address is TheGrange, Farnborough, Hampshire, England, has invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Parachute Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a quick emergency release safety coupling and.has for its object primarily to provide facilities for quickly releasinga. parachute from its load, a further object being the provision of ahand controlled emergency release coupling or fastening for use underconditions in which ordinary coupling devices are in generalinapplicable.

The invention is specially applicable for example for releasing theparachute or parachute and harness from a person on landing after aparachute descent, as the coupling is exceedingly safe and not liable toaccidental or premature involuntary re lease through panic, suddenfright or loss of nerve.

Broadly speaking, and considering the invention in a generic sense, itwill be observed that the improved coupling comprises a body forconnection to one part of the life line, and a coacting link for connection to the other portion of said line, the body being recessed and thelink extending into the recess to permit projection of a retractibleretainer through alined apertures in these two parts. In carrying outthe invention, I propose the use of two different species, each of whichis generically covered by the foregoing structure.

More specifically stated, the invention consists of two couplingmembers, a: screw threaded coupling pin, carried in one of the couplingmembers and arranged to move into or out of engagement with the othermember, and an internally screw-threaded winding reel, drum or nut,engaging the pin, and provided with a wound cord, tape or the likearranged to rotate the reel, drum or nut when pulled off the same ashereinafter described, and thus to cause the coupling pin to move intothe uncoupling or release position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are front and side elevations respectively of a quickrelease coupling constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken at 3-3 Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a vertical section taken at 4-4: Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken at 55 Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken at 6-6 Fig. at.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the application of the coupling to the lifeline of a parachute.

Figs. 8 to 10 are opposite side elevations and front view of theimproved coupling with line and attached leather sheath for securing theend oi the releasing tape.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation partly in section of a coupling of slightlymodified form of construction.

Fig. 12 is a rear elevation of the same, and Figs. 13 and 14 are detailviews.

As shown in Figures 1 to 9, one coupling member consists of a tonguepiece or link a having a hole Z) for attachment to one part of the liteline 0 of a parachute (see Fig. 7) while the other coupling memberconsists of a body (Z having a bifurcation or recess for receiving thelink a. This body is also equipped with an integral support or guidecheck 6 spaced from the body to accommodate a reel A hole 9 in thedepending portion of the body serves for the attachment of the otherpart c of the life line to be coupled to the part c. In Fig. 7, the part0 of the life line is also shown attached to the part c of aconventional form of aeronauts harness. The reel 7 is mounted betweenend bearing rings 7'' and has a screwthreaded axial bore in which aremovable screw-threaded coupling pin it is caused to operate by therotation of the reel, the said pin being arranged to move in alignedholes i and z" in the body cl and guide cheek e and through a hole j inthe link a to secure the parts of the coupling together. Rotation of thepin it is prevented by a fixed proj ection A: extending into a groove 70in the pin, this projection being formed as shown on a flanged ring Zfixed by screws to the outer face of the cheek e. The ring Z is providedwith screw threaded portion which supports a casing or housing m, heldin posi tion by a milled nut 71.. Provision is alsc made for securingthe nut with a lead seal for which purpose eye screws n n are fixeddescribed.

in the nut and casing m for the attachment of a fastening wire a withseal as shown in Fig. 2. For the purpose of sliding the coupling pin' itand releasing the coupling, a tape 0 is wound on the reel f, beingattached at one end to a pin p. When pulled, the tape rotates the reelj, which being prevented from moving axially, imparts a sliding movementto the coupling pin .h owing to its screw threaded connection therewith.It will be understood that the free endof the tape may hang in aconvenient position for operation by hand, or otherwise, or may besecured to a leather sheath as hereinafter A suitable guide 9 for thetape is also preferably provided on the coupling as seen better in'Figs. Band 6.

In order to keep the tape in wound condition on the reel a spring brakering 1" is ,c

interposed between the feel and the adjacent bearing ring 7 andco-operates with the rings f which may be of copper, to preventunintended rotation of the reel.

When the coupling is applied to the life line 0, c of a parachute asillustrated in the diagram Fig. 7, the free end of the releasing tape 0is preferably held in a sheath 8 of leather or other suitable materialto prevent it from being pulled accidentally or involuntarily, saidsheath being located in a position in the life line convenient to thehand of a person suspended therefrom. The arrangement is clearlyillustrated in Figs 8 to 10 from which it will be seen reel operativelyconnected with the coupling that the sheath 8 is attached to the part 0'of the life line and secured by a screw to an angle piece 25 on thecoupling member (I. iylhe tapeo passes down through the interior of theupper part of the sheath and out through an opening a therein andterminates in a leather tongue piece 0 which is inserted in anotherOpening a in the sheath. Now in order to operate the coupling it isnecessary to withdraw the tongue piece 0 and then exert a pull on thetape which unay be arranged to effect the release of, *the coupling onlyafter the tape has been KlFfIWIl out a predetermined distance.

In the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 11 to 14:, thecoupling of the parts a and (Z is obtained by providing a pivoted cheekbl on the coupling member or body d. An integral eye piece or tubularjournal g" forms the pivot of the cheek Tl which is locked in the closedposition by a retract-ible retainer in'the form of a spring pressed bolto arranged to enter a hole 0 in the cheek, the hole 11 being countersunkto'enable thebolt to be pressed back and disengaged with the finger. Acurved recess w is formed in the cheek cl for reception of the outer endof the coupling pin 72,.

It'will be understood that the improved quick release coupling insteadof being connected in the life line may form part of the fastening ofthe belt of a parachute harness or may be applied for coupling apassenger carrying basket with a parachute, such for exampleas thebasket of a balloon,

or may be applied in various other ways,

, 2. Aquick release coupling consisting of two coupling members, ascrew-threaded couphng pin carried in one of the coupling members and;arranged to move into or-out of engagement with the other couplingmember, an internally screwthreaded reel mounted on the coupling pin,means for preventing endwise motion of the reel, "and flexible means forrotating the reel.

5. A quick release safety coupling for con lin a arachute with its loadlconsisting of an apertured coupling member adapted to be secured to thelife line of a parachute, a co-operating apertured coupling memberadapted to be secured to the load, a coupling pinaclapted to engage in.

the apertured coupling members, and means foroperating the coupling pinincluding a pin and means adapted to be wound on the reel and vto rotatethe same when pulled off.

anaperture, a link disposed in said recess and provided with anaperturealined with thefirst named aperture, a retractible connector having oneend projecting through said apertures, and automatically operablemanually controlled means for moving said connector to inoperativeposition.

5. A coupling of the class described comprising a body having a recess,a link having one end received in said recess, said link being equippedwith an aperture, said body being provided with a guide cheek spacedfrom said body, a horizontally disposed axially retractible pin carriedby said body and having one end projecting through the aperture in saidlink and en gaged with one wall of the recess, a drum havingscrew-threaded connection with said projectible across said recess, theopposite end of said pin being externally screw threaded and providedWith a longitudinal groove, a projection carried by said cheek 5 andextending into said groove to prevent rotation of the pin but to permitlongitudinal sliding thereof, a drum disposed between said guide cheekand body and having threaded connection With said pin for 10 sliding thelatter, and a link having one end disposed in said recess, said one endbeing provided with an aperture through which said pin is adapted topass.

In testimony whereof he has aifixed his signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

HAROLD EDWVARD SHERl/VIN HOLT.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL PERorvAL, WILLIAM H. DAVIS.

